Chemical Control of Mosquitoes

From "Insecticides for Mosquito Control in
New Jersey, 1996", New Jersey Agricultural
Experiment Station Publication No.
P-40400-01-96.

To serve the citizens of New
Jersey, the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment
Station annually reviews the choice of
insecticides to be used by the county mosquito
commissions and other agencies responsible for
reducing the population of nuisance and vector
species of mosquitoes. The Station bases its
selection on experience and research in mosquito
control since 1912, including factors of safety,
economy and efficiency under New Jersey
conditions. Selection is also dependent with
State and Federal authorities and professional
organizations in mosquito research and control.
Professional mosquito control in New Jersey
relies on the surveillance of mosquito sources
and problems and the proper consideration of
options for control, such as water management,
biological control, and insecticides. This
integrated and comprehensive approach to the
control of mosquitoes utilizes all available
control strategies to reduce the status of
mosquitoes as pests to tolerable levels while
maintaining a quality environment.

When mosquito problems
necessitate the use of insecticides, generally
it is best to employ larvicides and pupicides,
since they are directed efficiently at the most
concentrated developmental stage of the mosquito
and reduce the need for adulticiding.
Larviciding/pupiciding should only be performed
by the county commissions or other county and
state agencies charged with the responsibility
for mosquito control. If weather or
environmental concerns prevent such efforts,
then adulticides can be used shortly after
emergence when adult mosquitoes are still
concentrated in their source area and before
they have dispersed. In an integrated approach
in the management of mosquito populations,
adulticiding may be necessary for dispersed or
migrating adult mosquitoes. Since the
recommended adulticides are non-persistent with
no residual toxicity to adult mosquitoes,
special attention should be given to the level
of mosquito activity and the environmental
conditions in order to insure the maximum
efficiency of the application.

According to
N.J.A.C. 7:30, for the application of any
pesticide commercially, or restricted pesticides
privately, or of any pesticide in public places,
the applicator or the direct supervisor must be
registered and certified by the Bureau of
Pesticide Control. As of October 1, 1977,
additional certification was required in the
certification category Public Health Control,
category CPA 8B Mosquito Control. Other related
categories include 8C Campgrounds, CPA 11 Aerial
Application Pest Control, and CPA 10
Demonstration and Research Pest Control.
Training manuals may be obtained from your local
county cooperative extension office or the
Rutgers Cooperative Extension, SEBS-Cook College
(908-932-9801). For additional information
regarding pesticide regulations contact the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,
Pesticide Control Program, Trenton, New Jersey.
Telephone: 609-530-4070.